Creating a framework for a comprehensive ecosystem

-The Star- THE Government is introducing an Awareness, Faculty, Finance, Infrastructure, Research and Marketing framework towards creating a comprehensive ecosystem for environmental sustainability under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).

It will operationalise its 2002 National Policy on the Environment, the 2009 National Green Technology Policy and the 2009 National Climate Change Policy during the 10MP.

A Green Technology Financing Scheme with a RM1.5bil fund to encourage investments in green technology, construction and innovation will also be established in addition to tax incentives.

The Government will develop a national eco-labelling scheme and standards matching international ones to build competitiveness.

A committee to drive and facilitate implementation of adaptation and mitigation measures at the inter-ministerial and cross-sectoral level will be formed as well.

The Plan also focuses on streamlining and coordinating across existing legislation and policies while ensuring economic, social and cultural progress through an environmentally sustainable development.

Climate mitigation involves embarking on several programmes, for example, a Feed-in Tariff of 1% will be incorporated to allow electricity produced via renewable energy (RE) be sold to utilities at a fixed premium price for a specific duration while a RE Fund will be established to support RE development.

The National Energy Efficiency Master Plan 2010 will be a holistic roadmap to drive efficiency measures across sectors with a target of cumulative savings of 4,000kg tonnes of oil by 2015.

Building material recovery facilities, thermal treatment plants and non-organic waste recycling will also be emphasised during the 10MP.

States will be encouraged to gazette forests especially water catchment and protected areas and plant more trees.

Air quality will be improved via reduced emissions from motor vehicles via strict enforcement on emission standards, preventing haze pollution from land and forest fires via partnership with neighbouring countries and sustainable peatland management, reduced industry emissions, building institutional capacity and capabilities and strengthening public awareness and participation.

The Plan also includes measures to enhance forest and wildlife conservation via implementation of the Central Forest Spine of 4.32 million hectares in the peninsular and six million hectares in East Malaysia.

Areas serving as biodiversity reservoirs and watersheds will be classified as Environmentally Sensitive Areas where limited or no development will be permitted and its eco-tourism potential explored.

Efforts in wildlife management and endangered species protection in partnership with the private sector will be intensified via governing regulation enforcement.

Plans for the coastal and marine areas include improved management and protection like intensified mangrove planting, reviewing existing legislation and plans for further enhancement and increasing ability to track habitat and resource changes.